Analysis Gold Coast Suns In-Depth Club Review

[footystar_]

It was another injury plagued season which saw an array of players sidelined for majority or all of the season.

First, Let me take you back to Round 10, 2014.
The Suns made it a 5th consecutive win, with a 45 point smashing of the Western Bulldogs, they sat in 3rd position with a 7-2 record and looking like a seriously fast and skilful football side who would no doubt be playing finals that year. There was optimism and a good footy vibe on the Gold Coast.

Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Gary Ablett Jnr and David Swallow were all playing fantastically well together through the midfield and starting to catch the attention of the entire AFL community, with many 'experts' predicting them to win a flag by 2016.

The AFL's multi-million dollar cash injection and player-concessions were now looking like paying dividends. A club which was built from scratch was now in it's 4th season and starting to play consistent, competitive football and was everything the AFL could have asked for.
So what happened?

Since that win on the 25th of May, 2014, The Suns have won just 13 matches, while losing 43, a staggering and dismal 23% win rate while average crowds and membership have dropped dramatically year on year.

So where did is it all going wrong?

Firstly, let's take a look at the suns 1st year's draft crop:

Back in 2010, Gold Coast had 8 of the first 13 picks in the draft.
They selected - #1 David Swallow (Questionable), #2 Harley Bennell (Gone), #3 Sam Day, #7 Josh Caddy (Gone), #9 Dion Prestia (Gone), #10 Daniel Gorringe (Gone), #11 Tom Lynch, #13 Seb Tape (Gone).

Take a look at the GWS Giants first year in the draft, they managed to get 11 of the first 14 picks in the draft and just 2 players have moved on:
#1 Patton, #2 Coniglio, #3 Tyson, #4 Hoskins-Elliot, #5 Buntine, #7 Haynes #9 Tomlinson, #10 Sumner (Gone), #11 Greene, #13 Adams (Gone), #14 Devon Smith.

The 2011 draft was a much much stronger crop of players all the way through to the deep end, The Giants traded well and banked on the strong draft but that's only a small part of the problem for the Suns as talent is certainly not the main issue.

The real issue remains, why this club continues to head south?

Many reports have come out over the years that a really poor culture exists at the Suns. Rodney Eade and premiership player Nick Malceski both couldn't believe their eyes when they arrived at the Suns. The way the club was operating was so far off a professional organisation as they'd seen and Rocket wanted things to chance quick smart!

Moving on players is only a bandaid treatment, it doesn't fix the main issues of a club culture. The Dixon's and the Bennell's can get traded elsewhere, but other kids will come to the club and fall into the same trap.

You can't help but feel for the likes of Prestia and O'Meara who come across as extremely professional athletes, who want to work in a professional environment yet continue to be let down by the organisation and the way it's operated.

Let me use the Western Bulldogs as an example, to show you how quick a good list can be turned around.

In 2014 the Dogs finished the year 7-15 and looking extremely unlikely of playing finals in 2015. During the off-season players didn't like the way the club was being run behind closed doors, with Ryan Griffin walking from the club. A fortnight later Brendan McCarthy resigned and the dogs 2015 season was in disarray.

The Dogs needed someone to settle the ship and rebuild the faith among the playing group and Luke Beveridge was the man that did it.
The Dogs shocked the entire competition, bouncing back in unbelievable style to play final footy and win 15 games for the year.
The entire CLUB has been turned around from some off-field adjustments and changes to the clubs culture.

In the Suns instance, a new coach hasn't been the answer.
Rocket has obviously identified the club had some significant off-field issues but still players are walking on the club for careers elsewhere.

The Suns need a complete clean up of both the football department and administration.

Jobs we feel need to be re-addressed:
Football Department:
Marcus Ashcroft - GM - Football Operations
Andy Lovell - Defensive Coach
Matthew Lappin - Head of Development

Administation:
Entire Marketing department need to start showcasing the Gold Coast to Australia, especially the AFL community. Most people see it as a beach, amusement part and strip of shops on Cavill Avenue.
When attracting new talent to the club, they need to showcase the lifestyle the Gold Coast has to offer.

TONY COCHRANE - Needs to focus on the monetisation of the club rather than the football department. He needs to allow Rocket and his team to do their job and Tony needs to focus on getting the Suns heading in the right direction again off-field.

Rocket needs 1 more season with a full re-shuffle of the organisation and with no injuries and an extremely talented list, I'm confident they'll play finals.

The Suns have just as good a list as the Dogs did in 2014 when they were basically down and out and made a complete turn for the better in 2015 and I feel that can certainly be the case for the Suns in 2017, especially with the new $30M training facility which will no doubt bring a professional vibe around the club.

Players to Trade/Delist:

Trade:
O'Meara, Prestia, Russell, Hallahan

Delist:
Schade, Leslie, Cameron, Currie, Willis, Tape, Stanley

Who do the Suns need to target in the trade period?

 

[Ben Drever]

It was another injury plagued season which saw an array of players sidelined for majority or all of the season.

First, Let me take you back to Round 10, 2014.
The Suns made it a 5th consecutive win, with a 45 point smashing of the Western Bulldogs, they sat in 3rd position with a 7-2 record and looking like a seriously fast and skilful football side who would no doubt be playing finals that year. There was optimism and a good footy vibe on the Gold Coast.

Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Gary Ablett Jnr and David Swallow were all playing fantastically well together through the midfield and starting to catch the attention of the entire AFL community, with many 'experts' predicting them to win a flag by 2016.

The AFL's multi-million dollar cash injection and player-concessions were now looking like paying dividends. A club which was built from scratch was now in it's 4th season and starting to play consistent, competitive football and was everything the AFL could have asked for.
So what happened?

Since that win on the 25th of May, 2014, The Suns have won just 13 matches, while losing 43, a staggering and dismal 23% win rate while average crowds and membership have dropped dramatically year on year.

So where did is it all going wrong?

Firstly, let's take a look at the suns 1st year's draft crop:

Back in 2010, Gold Coast had 8 of the first 13 picks in the draft.
They selected - #1 David Swallow (Questionable), #2 Harley Bennell (Gone), #3 Sam Day, #7 Josh Caddy (Gone), #9 Dion Prestia (Gone), #10 Daniel Gorringe (Gone), #11 Tom Lynch, #13 Seb Tape (Gone).

Take a look at the GWS Giants first year in the draft, they managed to get 11 of the first 14 picks in the draft and just 2 players have moved on:
#1 Patton, #2 Coniglio, #3 Tyson, #4 Hoskins-Elliot, #5 Buntine, #7 Haynes #9 Tomlinson, #10 Sumner (Gone), #11 Greene, #13 Adams (Gone), #14 Devon Smith.

The 2011 draft was a much much stronger crop of players all the way through to the deep end, The Giants traded well and banked on the strong draft but that's only a small part of the problem for the Suns as talent is certainly not the main issue.

The real issue remains, why this club continues to head south?

Many reports have come out over the years that a really poor culture exists at the Suns. Rodney Eade and premiership player Nick Malceski both couldn't believe their eyes when they arrived at the Suns. The way the club was operating was so far off a professional organisation as they'd seen and Rocket wanted things to chance quick smart!

Moving on players is only a bandaid treatment, it doesn't fix the main issues of a club culture. The Dixon's and the Bennell's can get traded elsewhere, but other kids will come to the club and fall into the same trap.

You can't help but feel for the likes of Prestia and O'Meara who come across as extremely professional athletes, who want to work in a professional environment yet continue to be let down by the organisation and the way it's operated.

Let me use the Western Bulldogs as an example, to show you how quick a good list can be turned around.

In 2014 the Dogs finished the year 7-15 and looking extremely unlikely of playing finals in 2015. During the off-season players didn't like the way the club was being run behind closed doors, with Ryan Griffin walking from the club. A fortnight later Brendan McCarthy resigned and the dogs 2015 season was in disarray.

The Dogs needed someone to settle the ship and rebuild the faith among the playing group and Luke Beveridge was the man that did it.
The Dogs shocked the entire competition, bouncing back in unbelievable style to play final footy and win 15 games for the year.
The entire CLUB has been turned around from some off-field adjustments and changes to the clubs culture.

In the Suns instance, a new coach hasn't been the answer.
Rocket has obviously identified the club had some significant off-field issues but still players are walking on the club for careers elsewhere.

The Suns need a complete clean up of both the football department and administration.

Jobs we feel need to be re-addressed:
Football Department:
Marcus Ashcroft - GM - Football Operations
Andy Lovell - Defensive Coach
Matthew Lappin - Head of Development

Administation:
Entire Marketing department need to start showcasing the Gold Coast to Australia, especially the AFL community. Most people see it as a beach, amusement part and strip of shops on Cavill Avenue.
When attracting new talent to the club, they need to showcase the lifestyle the Gold Coast has to offer.

TONY COCHRANE - Needs to focus on the monetisation of the club rather than the football department. He needs to allow Rocket and his team to do their job and Tony needs to focus on getting the Suns heading in the right direction again off-field.

Rocket needs 1 more season with a full re-shuffle of the organisation and with no injuries and an extremely talented list, I'm confident they'll play finals.

The Suns have just as good a list as the Dogs did in 2014 when they were basically down and out and made a complete turn for the better in 2015 and I feel that can certainly be the case for the Suns in 2017, especially with the new $30M training facility which will no doubt bring a professional vibe around the club.

Players to Trade/Delist:

Trade:
O'Meara, Prestia, Russell, Hallahan

Delist:
Schade, Leslie, Cameron, Currie, Willis, Tape, Stanley

Who do the Suns need to target in the trade period?

Fyfe and Sloan for all our 8 picks

 

[OB11]

It was another injury plagued season which saw an array of players sidelined for majority or all of the season.

First, Let me take you back to Round 10, 2014.
The Suns made it a 5th consecutive win, with a 45 point smashing of the Western Bulldogs, they sat in 3rd position with a 7-2 record and looking like a seriously fast and skilful football side who would no doubt be playing finals that year. There was optimism and a good footy vibe on the Gold Coast.

Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Gary Ablett Jnr and David Swallow were all playing fantastically well together through the midfield and starting to catch the attention of the entire AFL community, with many 'experts' predicting them to win a flag by 2016.

The AFL's multi-million dollar cash injection and player-concessions were now looking like paying dividends. A club which was built from scratch was now in it's 4th season and starting to play consistent, competitive football and was everything the AFL could have asked for.
So what happened?

Since that win on the 25th of May, 2014, The Suns have won just 13 matches, while losing 43, a staggering and dismal 23% win rate while average crowds and membership have dropped dramatically year on year.

So where did is it all going wrong?

Firstly, let's take a look at the suns 1st year's draft crop:

Back in 2010, Gold Coast had 8 of the first 13 picks in the draft.
They selected - #1 David Swallow (Questionable), #2 Harley Bennell (Gone), #3 Sam Day, #7 Josh Caddy (Gone), #9 Dion Prestia (Gone), #10 Daniel Gorringe (Gone), #11 Tom Lynch, #13 Seb Tape (Gone).

Take a look at the GWS Giants first year in the draft, they managed to get 11 of the first 14 picks in the draft and just 2 players have moved on:
#1 Patton, #2 Coniglio, #3 Tyson (Gone), #4 Hoskins-Elliot (Going), #5 Buntine, #7 Haynes #9 Tomlinson (Going), #10 Sumner (Gone), #11 Greene, #13 Adams (Gone), #14 Devon Smith.

The 2011 draft was a much much stronger crop of players all the way through to the deep end, The Giants traded well and banked on the strong draft but that's only a small part of the problem for the Suns as talent is certainly not the main issue.

The real issue remains, why this club continues to head south?

Many reports have come out over the years that a really poor culture exists at the Suns. Rodney Eade and premiership player Nick Malceski both couldn't believe their eyes when they arrived at the Suns. The way the club was operating was so far off a professional organisation as they'd seen and Rocket wanted things to chance quick smart!

Moving on players is only a bandaid treatment, it doesn't fix the main issues of a club culture. The Dixon's and the Bennell's can get traded elsewhere, but other kids will come to the club and fall into the same trap.

You can't help but feel for the likes of Prestia and O'Meara who come across as extremely professional athletes, who want to work in a professional environment yet continue to be let down by the organisation and the way it's operated.

Let me use the Western Bulldogs as an example, to show you how quick a good list can be turned around.

In 2014 the Dogs finished the year 7-15 and looking extremely unlikely of playing finals in 2015. During the off-season players didn't like the way the club was being run behind closed doors, with Ryan Griffin walking from the club. A fortnight later Brendan McCarthy resigned and the dogs 2015 season was in disarray.

The Dogs needed someone to settle the ship and rebuild the faith among the playing group and Luke Beveridge was the man that did it.
The Dogs shocked the entire competition, bouncing back in unbelievable style to play final footy and win 15 games for the year.
The entire CLUB has been turned around from some off-field adjustments and changes to the clubs culture.

In the Suns instance, a new coach hasn't been the answer.
Rocket has obviously identified the club had some significant off-field issues but still players are walking on the club for careers elsewhere.

The Suns need a complete clean up of both the football department and administration.

Jobs we [?] feel need to be re-addressed:
Football Department:
Marcus Ashcroft - GM - Football Operations
Andy Lovell - Defensive Coach
Matthew Lappin - Head of Development

Administation:
Entire Marketing department need to start showcasing the Gold Coast to Australia, especially the AFL community. Most people see it as a beach, amusement part and strip of shops on Cavill Avenue.
When attracting new talent to the club, they need to showcase the lifestyle the Gold Coast has to offer.

TONY COCHRANE - Needs to focus on the monetisation of the club rather than the football department. He needs to allow Rocket and his team to do their job and Tony needs to focus on getting the Suns heading in the right direction again off-field.

Rocket needs 1 more season with a full re-shuffle of the organisation and with no injuries and an extremely talented list, I'm confident they'll play finals.

The Suns have just as good a list as the Dogs did in 2014 when they were basically down and out and made a complete turn for the better in 2015 and I feel that can certainly be the case for the Suns in 2017, especially with the new $30M training facility which will no doubt bring a professional vibe around the club.

Players to Trade/Delist:

Trade:
O'Meara, Prestia, Russell, Hallahan

Delist:
Schade (contracted), Leslie, Cameron, Currie (contracted I assume), Willis (contracted), Tape, Stanley

Who do the Suns need to target in the trade period?

 

[Stroppy]

Our development in the last couple of years has been pretty good I think.
A bunch of our players are better than they were and getting better.

The ones still stagnating tend to be from that initial group of 17 yo and the draft class.

Russell, Matera, Shaw, Trent all looked to be better players the first couple of years than they are now. Have not kicked on as much as expected. Still hoping that if we keep Shaw and Trent they do start to kick on. Both should be better players than they are now.

TNich and Sam Day not that far behind in lack of development.

In contrast young players like Touk, 2MP, Joyce are improving quickly. KK last year as well, before the illness and lethargy. Sexton, Lonergan to some extent.

Far more confident of our player development and our fitness staff than previously.

A few other comments on the review: if you think Russell has any trade value you have not been watching. If you think we will be delisting a 21 yo key defender in Jack Leslie you have not been paying attention. Will have trade value this year, especially since his brother has shown something for Gippsland. Willis and Currie only at the club for one year. Willis a draftee and under contract. Currie played well. Neither will be delisted.

 

[Young_Guns]

Our development in the last couple of years has been pretty good I think.
A bunch of our players are better than they were and getting better.

The ones still stagnating tend to be from that initial group of 17 yo and the draft class.

Russell, Matera, Shaw, Trent all looked to be better players the first couple of years than they are now. Have not kicked on as much as expected. Still hoping that if we keep Shaw and Trent they do start to kick on. Both should be better players than they are now.

TNich and Sam Day not that far behind in lack of development.

In contrast young players like Touk, 2MP, Joyce are improving quickly. KK last year as well, before the illness and lethargy. Sexton, Lonergan to some extent.

Far more confident of our player development and our fitness staff than previously.

A few other comments on the review: if you think Russell has any trade value you have not been watching. If you think we will be delisting a 21 yo key defender in Jack Leslie you have not been paying attention. Will have trade value this year, especially since his brother has shown something for Gippsland. Willis and Currie only at the club for one year. Willis a draftee and under contract. Currie played well. Neither will be delisted.

Prety much exactly my thoughts. Only addition is I think Lovell's job is pretty safe as well.

 

[gcsunsfc]

It was another injury plagued season which saw an array of players sidelined for majority or all of the season.

First, Let me take you back to Round 10, 2014.
The Suns made it a 5th consecutive win, with a 45 point smashing of the Western Bulldogs, they sat in 3rd position with a 7-2 record and looking like a seriously fast and skilful football side who would no doubt be playing finals that year. There was optimism and a good footy vibe on the Gold Coast.

Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Gary Ablett Jnr and David Swallow were all playing fantastically well together through the midfield and starting to catch the attention of the entire AFL community, with many 'experts' predicting them to win a flag by 2016.

The AFL's multi-million dollar cash injection and player-concessions were now looking like paying dividends. A club which was built from scratch was now in it's 4th season and starting to play consistent, competitive football and was everything the AFL could have asked for.
So what happened?

Since that win on the 25th of May, 2014, The Suns have won just 13 matches, while losing 43, a staggering and dismal 23% win rate while average crowds and membership have dropped dramatically year on year.

So where did is it all going wrong?

Firstly, let's take a look at the suns 1st year's draft crop:

Back in 2010, Gold Coast had 8 of the first 13 picks in the draft.
They selected - #1 David Swallow (Questionable), #2 Harley Bennell (Gone), #3 Sam Day, #7 Josh Caddy (Gone), #9 Dion Prestia (Gone), #10 Daniel Gorringe (Gone), #11 Tom Lynch, #13 Seb Tape (Gone).

Take a look at the GWS Giants first year in the draft, they managed to get 11 of the first 14 picks in the draft and just 2 players have moved on:
#1 Patton, #2 Coniglio, #3 Tyson, #4 Hoskins-Elliot, #5 Buntine, #7 Haynes #9 Tomlinson, #10 Sumner (Gone), #11 Greene, #13 Adams (Gone), #14 Devon Smith.

The 2011 draft was a much much stronger crop of players all the way through to the deep end, The Giants traded well and banked on the strong draft but that's only a small part of the problem for the Suns as talent is certainly not the main issue.

The real issue remains, why this club continues to head south?

Many reports have come out over the years that a really poor culture exists at the Suns. Rodney Eade and premiership player Nick Malceski both couldn't believe their eyes when they arrived at the Suns. The way the club was operating was so far off a professional organisation as they'd seen and Rocket wanted things to chance quick smart!

Moving on players is only a bandaid treatment, it doesn't fix the main issues of a club culture. The Dixon's and the Bennell's can get traded elsewhere, but other kids will come to the club and fall into the same trap.

You can't help but feel for the likes of Prestia and O'Meara who come across as extremely professional athletes, who want to work in a professional environment yet continue to be let down by the organisation and the way it's operated.

Let me use the Western Bulldogs as an example, to show you how quick a good list can be turned around.

In 2014 the Dogs finished the year 7-15 and looking extremely unlikely of playing finals in 2015. During the off-season players didn't like the way the club was being run behind closed doors, with Ryan Griffin walking from the club. A fortnight later Brendan McCarthy resigned and the dogs 2015 season was in disarray.

The Dogs needed someone to settle the ship and rebuild the faith among the playing group and Luke Beveridge was the man that did it.
The Dogs shocked the entire competition, bouncing back in unbelievable style to play final footy and win 15 games for the year.
The entire CLUB has been turned around from some off-field adjustments and changes to the clubs culture.

In the Suns instance, a new coach hasn't been the answer.
Rocket has obviously identified the club had some significant off-field issues but still players are walking on the club for careers elsewhere.

The Suns need a complete clean up of both the football department and administration.

Jobs we feel need to be re-addressed:
Football Department:
Marcus Ashcroft - GM - Football Operations
Andy Lovell - Defensive Coach
Matthew Lappin - Head of Development

Administation:
Entire Marketing department need to start showcasing the Gold Coast to Australia, especially the AFL community. Most people see it as a beach, amusement part and strip of shops on Cavill Avenue.
When attracting new talent to the club, they need to showcase the lifestyle the Gold Coast has to offer.

TONY COCHRANE - Needs to focus on the monetisation of the club rather than the football department. He needs to allow Rocket and his team to do their job and Tony needs to focus on getting the Suns heading in the right direction again off-field.

Rocket needs 1 more season with a full re-shuffle of the organisation and with no injuries and an extremely talented list, I'm confident they'll play finals.

The Suns have just as good a list as the Dogs did in 2014 when they were basically down and out and made a complete turn for the better in 2015 and I feel that can certainly be the case for the Suns in 2017, especially with the new $30M training facility which will no doubt bring a professional vibe around the club.

Players to Trade/Delist:

Trade:
O'Meara, Prestia, Russell, Hallahan

Delist:
Schade, Leslie, Cameron, Currie, Willis, Tape, Stanley

Who do the Suns need to target in the trade period?

Nice overview. Thank you.

I'm going to nit pick though.

GWS have also had Tyson leave, Tomlinson trying to leave, Hoskin Elliott not good enough to get a game.

I think the biggest difference is the 17 year olds.. they got cameron, shiel, treloar plus others i can't recall. They crap all over any of the 17 year olds we grabbed.

 

[Choppers]

Gold Coast got concessions to make them competitive and then GWS got concessions to get them a Premiership....big difference...

 

[IanW]

Gold Coast got concessions to make them competitive and then GWS got concessions to get them a Premiership....big difference...

Bullshit.

The key differences were

1. GWS' uncontracted players - Ward, Davis, Scully and Palmer - were all positives for the club. Gold Coast had the best player of his generation, but there's only one of him, and he's been hurt.

2. Chad Cornes, the hard man GWS hired to make sure no one hit the kids hit the opposition, not his team-mates. Gold Coast's hard man - Cambell Brown - cannot be said to have done the same thing.

3. Sheedy and Williams knew how to coach a side. Gold Coast's coaching staff were learning on the job.

4. GWS' rugby league recruit was a largely useless God-botherer. Gold Coast's rugby league recruit had a side-hustle in supplying cocaine.

5. GWS had average luck with injuries. Gold Coast had terrible, terrible luck with injuries.

6. GWS kept it's kids in an internment camp, with the Lamberts as substitute parents. Gold Coast let theirs run free.

All that said, Gold Coast are now doing their rebuild.

They've had the best young forward in the competition - yeah, he's better than Cameron - re-sign till 2018, and Two Meter Peter is the other half of that puzzle. Your midfield got destroyed by injury, but Touk Miller and the rest put their hands up and will be better with Bowes in it.

ANd, most importantly, all the players at Gold Coast will be there because they want to stay there.

 

[Supersuns]

Bullshit.

The key differences were

1. GWS' uncontracted players - Ward, Davis, Scully and Palmer - were all positives for the club. Gold Coast had the best player of his generation, but there's only one of him, and he's been hurt.

2. Chad Cornes, the hard man GWS hired to make sure no one hit the kids hit the opposition, not his team-mates. Gold Coast's hard man - Cambell Brown - cannot be said to have done the same thing.

3. Sheedy and Williams knew how to coach a side. Gold Coast's coaching staff were learning on the job.

4. GWS' rugby league recruit was a largely useless God-botherer. Gold Coast's rugby league recruit had a side-hustle in supplying cocaine.

5. GWS had average luck with injuries. Gold Coast had terrible, terrible luck with injuries.

6. GWS kept it's kids in an internment camp, with the Lamberts as substitute parents. Gold Coast let theirs run free.

All that said, Gold Coast are now doing their rebuild.

They've had the best young forward in the competition - yeah, he's better than Cameron - re-sign till 2018, and Two Meter Peter is the other half of that puzzle. Your midfield got destroyed by injury, but Touk Miller and the rest put their hands up and will be better with Bowes in it.

ANd, most importantly, all the players at Gold Coast will be there because they want to stay there.

Plus your mini drafts, and 2 extra years of an expanded list and money from the AFL.

 

[exile]

Bullshit.

The key differences were

1. GWS' uncontracted players - Ward, Davis, Scully and Palmer - were all positives for the club. Gold Coast had the best player of his generation, but there's only one of him, and he's been hurt.

2. Chad Cornes, the hard man GWS hired to make sure no one hit the kids hit the opposition, not his team-mates. Gold Coast's hard man - Cambell Brown - cannot be said to have done the same thing.

3. Sheedy and Williams knew how to coach a side. Gold Coast's coaching staff were learning on the job.

4. GWS' rugby league recruit was a largely useless God-botherer. Gold Coast's rugby league recruit had a side-hustle in supplying cocaine.

5. GWS had average luck with injuries. Gold Coast had terrible, terrible luck with injuries.

6. GWS kept it's kids in an internment camp, with the Lamberts as substitute parents. Gold Coast let theirs run free.

All that said, Gold Coast are now doing their rebuild.

They've had the best young forward in the competition - yeah, he's better than Cameron - re-sign till 2018, and Two Meter Peter is the other half of that puzzle. Your midfield got destroyed by injury, but Touk Miller and the rest put their hands up and will be better with Bowes in it.

ANd, most importantly, all the players at Gold Coast will be there because they want to stay there.

most of your key differences have nothing to do with the concessions given to each club.

have a read of this.

 

[TheSunGod]

Bullshit.

The key differences were

1. GWS' uncontracted players - Ward, Davis, Scully and Palmer - were all positives for the club. Gold Coast had the best player of his generation, but there's only one of him, and he's been hurt.

2. Chad Cornes, the hard man GWS hired to make sure no one hit the kids hit the opposition, not his team-mates. Gold Coast's hard man - Cambell Brown - cannot be said to have done the same thing.

3. Sheedy and Williams knew how to coach a side. Gold Coast's coaching staff were learning on the job.

4. GWS' rugby league recruit was a largely useless God-botherer. Gold Coast's rugby league recruit had a side-hustle in supplying cocaine.

5. GWS had average luck with injuries. Gold Coast had terrible, terrible luck with injuries.

6. GWS kept it's kids in an internment camp, with the Lamberts as substitute parents. Gold Coast let theirs run free.

All that said, Gold Coast are now doing their rebuild.

They've had the best young forward in the competition - yeah, he's better than Cameron - re-sign till 2018, and Two Meter Peter is the other half of that puzzle. Your midfield got destroyed by injury, but Touk Miller and the rest put their hands up and will be better with Bowes in it.

ANd, most importantly, all the players at Gold Coast will be there because they want to stay there.

You've made a few good points there, particularly #5 and to a lesser extent #6. Another I think that has actually worked to your benefit is that you were more s**t than us for the first three years, which as its turned out, has actually helped your list-build through acquiring more early draft picks for use to draft high quality youngsters and as trade currency. The fact that many of your high draft picks cannot get a game in the first due to a fair run with injuries also means they have retained their draft value through less exposure, better than our reserves players. As such you've been able to trade many where we just have to delist.
The big one though is continuity on the field. I was doing a rough calculation the other day on our top 10 or so mids and of the 500 odd total combined games they could have played in total over the last 2 years, we've actually only had them available for about 300. So on average for every 5 games played, our top ten midfielders are missing for two!!

 

[IanW]

most of your key differences have nothing to do with the concessions given to each club.

have a read of this.

That article is mostly whiny bullshit.

The things the Suns ****ed up were mostly about culture, not about concessions. You could have given the Gold Coast more concessions, and because the culture got ****ed up, all you would have seen is more high end picks leaving.

GWS ' early hires were all about culture - and Luke Power, James McDonald and Chad Cornes left their stamp on the club.

The other thing we did right was put the blood on the floor early when it was clear people weren't up to the job - we fired our first CEO before we played an AFL game, with Dale Holmes being sacked in 2011.

We also made better back-office hires (Phil Scully has done a great job), and thats been reflected in our better record with bringing experienced players in (ie Heath Shaw vs Malecksi).

Get the culture right. Hire in leaders.

 

[exile]

That article is mostly whiny bullshit.

The things the Suns stuffed up were mostly about culture, not about concessions. You could have given the Gold Coast more concessions, and because the culture got stuffed up, all you would have seen is more high end picks leaving.

GWS ' early hires were all about culture - and Luke Power, James McDonald and Chad Cornes left their stamp on the club.

The other thing we did right was put the blood on the floor early when it was clear people weren't up to the job - we fired our first CEO before we played an AFL game, with Dale Holmes being sacked in 2011.

We also made better back-office hires (Phil Scully has done a great job), and thats been reflected in our better record with bringing experienced players in (ie Heath Shaw vs Malecksi).

Get the culture right. Hire in leaders.

i'm under no illusion that decisions made early on were poor in terms of management and especially trading & drafting (see post).
you can't discredit the differences in concessions between the two clubs though. we've been operating on the same playing field as every other afl club for the past 2 seasons, whereas gws won't be until the 2019 season.

 

[Wallross]

That article is mostly whiny bullshit.

It's factual. The whiny bullshit comes when Suns supporters use it to justify why GWS are at the top of the ladder and we are at the bottom. I'm starting to regret writing it.

You guys were given a 12 foot ladder, and we were given a 10 foot ladder. We both should be partying on the roof.

The difference has been everything you mentioned in your post and poor injury luck.

 

[Choppers]

Bullshit.

The key differences were

1. GWS' uncontracted players - Ward, Davis, Scully and Palmer - were all positives for the club. Gold Coast had the best player of his generation, but there's only one of him, and he's been hurt.

2. Chad Cornes, the hard man GWS hired to make sure no one hit the kids hit the opposition, not his team-mates. Gold Coast's hard man - Cambell Brown - cannot be said to have done the same thing.

3. Sheedy and Williams knew how to coach a side. Gold Coast's coaching staff were learning on the job.

4. GWS' rugby league recruit was a largely useless God-botherer. Gold Coast's rugby league recruit had a side-hustle in supplying cocaine.

5. GWS had average luck with injuries. Gold Coast had terrible, terrible luck with injuries.

6. GWS kept it's kids in an internment camp, with the Lamberts as substitute parents. Gold Coast let theirs run free.

All that said, Gold Coast are now doing their rebuild.

They've had the best young forward in the competition - yeah, he's better than Cameron - re-sign till 2018, and Two Meter Peter is the other half of that puzzle. Your midfield got destroyed by injury, but Touk Miller and the rest put their hands up and will be better with Bowes in it.

ANd, most importantly, all the players at Gold Coast will be there because they want to stay there.

Mate, everything you've said there is no doubt true, and it shows what a well run club GWS is, BUT that has nothing to do with the difference in concessions received. The concessions GWS received and are still receiving, were and are far superior to the concessions we received, ours ended at the completion of the 2014 season, whilst you are still receiving them.
Now I don't have a problem with the concessions you received and are still receiving, the problem I have, is the majority of media commentating on AFL, coming out and broadcasting to the world that both clubs got the same concessions, when in actual fact that is so far from the truth, it's not even laughable. And I firmly believe in what I posted earlier in my original post.
Anyway, I'm done with it. Nice to have you come on here with your opinion, but I'm sorry, none of what you have stated has anything to do with concessions, only that GWS is a better run club than GC. And up until the end of 2014, I'd probably agree with you.

Now please go away and hopefully enjoy your club's success next week.........

 

[Iva Bigun]

That article is mostly whiny bullshit.

The things the Suns stuffed up were mostly about culture, not about concessions. You could have given the Gold Coast more concessions, and because the culture got stuffed up, all you would have seen is more high end picks leaving.

GWS ' early hires were all about culture - and Luke Power, James McDonald and Chad Cornes left their stamp on the club.

The other thing we did right was put the blood on the floor early when it was clear people weren't up to the job - we fired our first CEO before we played an AFL game, with Dale Holmes being sacked in 2011.

We also made better back-office hires (Phil Scully has done a great job), and thats been reflected in our better record with bringing experienced players in (ie Heath Shaw vs Malecksi).

Get the culture right. Hire in leaders.

I am a fan of the Giants as my "other teams" will attest and I have been to 6 GWS games this year so I feel I am measured in my response to your post.

To call a well written review of the differences in the 2 clubs concessions "whiny bullshit" is disrespectful on another clubs board and plan wrong.

Your access to the Riverina is a major difference between the clubs, take that away and you are no where near the same club.

No doubt your club has done a wonderful job but to come to another clubs board and say some of the things you have is poor form.

 

[TheSunGod]

Should GWS win the flag this year it'll be five years since their start, the only club to match this since expansion began is the West Coast Eagles in 1992 which will be an extraordinary feat when you consider West Coast were formed from a powerhouse football state at the time (only the coach and Don Pyke are not WA boys), and the Giants from a frontier state. How long would it take an Academy that long from QLD/NSW to fill that many spots?
I'd like to see GWS win it this year but geez the Doggies are playing superbly and for the romance of it i'd also like to see them win it. Really looking forward to next week.

 

[TheSunGod]

I am a fan of the Giants as my "other teams" will attest and I have been to 6 GWS games this year so I feel I am measured in my response to your post.

To call a well written review of the differences in the 2 clubs concessions "whiny bullshit" is disrespectful on another clubs board and plan wrong.

Your access to the Riverina is a major difference between the clubs, take that away and you are no where near the same club.

No doubt your club has done a wonderful job but to come to another clubs board and say some of the things you have is poor form.

Looks like some of their supporters get a bit lippy like their youngsters were known to do since early days. The AFL have created one big spoilt child that shows no respect.

 

[Experimental]

Why do opposition supporters insist on coming into our board and think anyone here gives a * about what they have to say?

Attention to IanW - * off back to your own board you self righteous fool.

 

[Scotty_222]

That article is mostly whiny bullshit.

The things the Suns stuffed up were mostly about culture, not about concessions. You could have given the Gold Coast more concessions, and because the culture got stuffed up, all you would have seen is more high end picks leaving.

GWS ' early hires were all about culture - and Luke Power, James McDonald and Chad Cornes left their stamp on the club.

The other thing we did right was put the blood on the floor early when it was clear people weren't up to the job - we fired our first CEO before we played an AFL game, with Dale Holmes being sacked in 2011.

We also made better back-office hires (Phil Scully has done a great job), and thats been reflected in our better record with bringing experienced players in (ie Heath Shaw vs Malecksi).

Get the culture right. Hire in leaders.

You're a dead set moron.. go away